Legal Aid- Justice For Every Women

Member

Shahedul Azam

Duration

From January 20 to December 28, 2017

Target

Women of underprivileged community in different areas of Dhaka (urban slum), who cannot afford a lawyer and have no idea about the prevailing law of Bangladesh regarding eve-teasing, bullying, discrimination, abuse, domestic violence, dowry

Target population

150

Target avg age

40

People impacted

23

Sustainable Development Goal

Gender Equality

Development stage

Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability

Purpose

After carrying out this project, the 150 no underprivileged women of the community shall be more aware of their legal rights and gain confidence in their development and the issues will be resolved by getting access to legal advice. They will be able to know that they have legal rights in terms of their maintenance and any injustice including violence, mental abuse etc. against them.

Overview

As it appears, In Bangladesh,85% of the women are not aware about their rights in terms of family law, domestic violence, women rights, discrimination and how to get support from law enforcing agencies. In addition, Eve-teasing, Bullying is very common and rising issue in these days. The women are not aware of specially the following articles of law: Under the Constitution, women’s rights are protected under the broad and universal principles of equality in: Article 10 which provides that steps shall be taken to ensure participation of women in all spheres of national life. Article 19 (1) which provides that the State shall endeavour to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens. Article 27 which specifies that all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection. Article 28 (1) which provides that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Article 28 (2) which says that women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the State and of public life. In addition, Bangladesh has specific laws prohibiting certain forms of violence including the Penal Code, 1860, the Anti-Dowry Prohibition Act (1980), the Cruelty to Women Ordinance (1983), the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (1993), and the Prevention of Repression against Women and Children Act (2000). Considering the challenges, JCI Dhaka Cosmopolitan catered the project for women to make them aware of the above law and how to get access to legal action, assistance for ensuring women right, dispute resolution etc.

Results

150 women of underprivileged community are finding a place where they can contact instantly for any incident relating to violence, eve-teasing, bullying and gender discrimination and which will lead the community to live better than before for women. This is an example project to transform the women take control about their life in terms of seeking justice which in turns help them to live a better quality of life.

Recommendations

To engage more lawyers and get sponsorship for the underprivileged women so as to provide them with legal service free of costs as it is difficult from them to pay for legal services.

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